Welcome to Springvale Reserve for the 2025 SFNL Bendigo Bank Division Two senior grand final between Hampton Park & Chelsea Heights.
Well here is a match up that some of us probably expected for the last six weeks. It has finally arrived as one of these two teams are going to get that all important promotion to division one. While for the other it’ll be back to the drawing board and what can we do differently come 2026.
Throughout season 2025 we have seen Hampton Park set the benchmark in division two, but lurking away in the shadows and making a real push up the ladder and probably making them feel a little nervous has been Chelsea Heights with their experienced leaders and exciting goal sneaks on show all season long making this grand final today one that’ll be for the history books.
From their semi final defeat back in 2024 after showing some real promise the Redbacks have had more success go their way in 2025 with a dominant 14 win and 4 loss record to finish the 2025 home and away season as minor premiers. You have to remember as well from round nine until round sixteen they went on a rampage of wins until being stopped in round 17 by today’s opponent.
Throughout the finals series a lot like other grand finalists we have already seen in 2025 the Redbacks only needed their second semi final berth in order to advance to today’s grand final and that victory came over the Dogs by 24 points.
On that day it was their hard defence that set up that win for them keeping the Dogs goalless in the first half until the likes of Trent Thomas, Makaio Haywood & Liam Scott put the scoreboard pressure on them all booting multiple goals.
We are used to seeing names of Jye King & Jayden Weichard in the best for the Redbacks and expect nothing less from them once again while if he gets on the back of any new arrival Myles Wareham can make the Dees feel pain.
Speaking of the Dees now they arrive at this grand final after being relegated down to division two after a two win season in 2024. And they have quickly reminded the rest of the division of how good they can be immediately returning to grand final day looking to spoil the party and earn promotion once again.
They finished second on the ladder with a 12 win and 6 loss record only percentage separated them and third place getter Highett.
It wasn't all smooth sailing early on for the Dees with their first month resulting in a 1-3 record and that win over the Frankston Dolphins was only 4 points and gave fans heart palpitations as it was decided very late.
But throughout season 2025 the Dees gave their fans a good ride with win streaks of five games and six games between that stuttery start and the final series.
Their first final against Highett didn’t go the way they expected with the Dogs getting up right at the death by a straight kick meaning they had to go the long way to where we are today. And they rose to those occasions with wins over Mordialloc by 43 points and revenge was taken out last week with a 34 point victory over the Dogs thanks to best on ground efforts from Rob Macpherson & Liam Dix.
Robbie Macpherson has just been mentioned but how big will the likes of Jordan Perryman & Liam Tapscott be? Seasoned players who dig in week in and week out for their side. While Erish Uthayakumar & Jesse Murphy hold the keys down forward as they’ve been the ones doing the damage for the Dees.
It does feel strange to say that Chelsea Heights have won both games against Hampton Park during their meetings in 2025 and it just happens to be a grand final where the knock out punch can be landed but we’re wiping the slate clean it’s 0-0 and it’s all on the line.
Promotion is on the line. Either side deserves to be there come 2026 and this could be the best grand final of 2025….
